Schenectady, NY — Coffee enthusiasts and bubble tea aficionados have a new destination on Jay Street as Storied Coffee & Milk Teas officially opens its doors at 123 Jay St., the former site of Saratoga Coffee Traders.
Storied Coffee & Milk Teas, which also operates a location on Mohawk Avenue in Scotia, is renowned for its specialty espresso-based coffee beverages and latte-style boba drinks made without powder. The café offers a selection of used books, alongside a limited food menu featuring bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and their well-regarded cinnamon rolls.
Founded in 2019 by Rich and Christine Sarnacki, Storied first established itself in Scotia. The Sarnackis had previously considered opening a second location on Jay Street in the Benjamin building, but the timing was not right. However, with the closure of Saratoga Coffee Traders in March, the opportunity to move into the newly vacated space arose.
Saratoga Coffee Traders, which had opened on Jay Street in December 2023, shut down its Schenectady location not due to poor performance but due to lease issues, according to owner Scott Swedish. Despite the closure, Swedish emphasized the success of the Jay Street site, stating, “Businesses can and will succeed here. We are not closing because we didn’t make money here. This store IS profitable and thriving. The numbers here are above expected. The potential is immense.”
Seeing the potential in the space, the Sarnackis quickly acted. “Scott did a lot of work to build it out, to build a coffee bar, create a space that could be used as a coffee shop or restaurant-type business, so a lot of the work was done for us,” said Rich Sarnacki. “Besides that, it’s essentially the best location. Jay Street is, in itself, a good location. But I think that’s the best location on the street, directly next to Simone’s, across from the Whistling Kettle and The Open Door [Bookstore].”
The café underwent minimal renovations before its soft opening last week. Storied Coffee & Milk Teas adds to the vibrant coffee culture in Schenectady, distinguishing itself with its meticulous approach to drink preparation. “What separates Storied from the pack is our approach to making drinks that emphasize balance and flavors,” explained Rich Sarnacki. “Nothing too sweet, nothing too bitter. We are really precise in the way that we make espresso drinks. We use specific equipment to get those kinds of results. Our process is a bit more detail-oriented than your average coffee shop.”
In addition to coffee and tea, Storied offers a selection of used books priced for accessibility. “We’re trying to contribute to a little downtown book culture. Hopefully, help create a little bookstore destination downtown,” added Sarnacki.
Currently in its soft-opening phase, Storied Coffee & Milk Teas will be open Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. After the soft opening, the café plans to operate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays through Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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